Iran Confirms Receiving First Batch Of Russian S-300 Defense Missile System

Iran has confirmed receiving first batch of S-300 air defense missile systems from Russia.

“We had already announced that despite several changes in time of delivery, the deal is on its path of implementation. Today I should announce that the first part of these equipment has arrived in Iran and delivery of other parts will continue,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Jaberi ANsari was quoted as saying by Fars News Monday.

A video has been posted on IRGC’s military.ir website claiming to be that of the first S-300 delivery.

A contract for the supply of five battalions of S-300 systems was signed by both the countries in 2007. The $800 million contract was cancelled in 2010 by the them Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and money returned following UN sanctions imposed on Iran.

In January 2015, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Iranian counterpart, Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan, agreed to move forward with the sale of five S-300PMU-1/SA-20 Gargoyle SAM systems (40 launchers) for $800 million.

Last week, a Russian Diplomat had said that it will begin deliveries of S-300s within days. “I don’t know if this will happen today, but they (S-300 missiles) will be loaded (for shipment to Iran),” Zamir Kabulov, a department chief at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Interfax on April 5 in Moscow.

"There are no problematic issues in this sphere and the contract has been concluded," Rogozin told TASS Friday.

Russia has also offered to license-produce the third-generation T-90s main battle tank in Iran. Both countries are also reportedly close to signing a contract for the co-production of an undisclosed number of Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft in Iran.